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Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 29 Sep 2024

What Is Leptospirosis Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Has Been Diagnosed With? Know Causes, Signs And Symptoms

Leptospirosis is caused by an infection with the bacteria Leptospira through abrasions or cuts in your skin, or through your eyes, nose, or mouth

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been diagnosed with Leptospirosis - a bacterial disease that can affect both humans and animals, according to doctors at Mohali’s Fortis Hospital. The 50-year-old has tested positive for the zoonotic infection which affects vital organs like lungs and kidneys.
Doctors say Mann’s clinical parameters are improving and he is responding well to the treatment. "At present, all vitals of the Chief Minister are completely stable. As suspected at the time of admission for tropical fever, his blood tests for leptospirosis came back positive,” ANI quoted Dr. RK Jaswal, Director and Head of Department of Cardiology, Fortis Hospital Mohali, as saying.
Mann had checked in the hospital earlier this week for a “routine health checkup”, according to an official statement issued by his office.

What is leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is caused by an infection with the bacteria Leptospira through abrasions or cuts in your skin, or through your eyes, nose, or mouth. Doctors say you can get infected through:
  • Direct contact with pee or reproductive fluids from infected animals
  • Contact with contaminated water or soil
  • Eating or drinking contaminated food or water
According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is estimated that more than a million people across the world get leptospirosis each year, and nearly 60,000 of those die from it.

What are the phases of leptospirosis?

The infection occurs in two phases:
  • Leptospiremic or acute is the mild phase which causes a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms and starts within two to 14 days after the infection begins. In this phase, bacteria enter your bloodstream and begin moving to your organs.
  • In the immune phase, the bacteria begin attacking your kidneys.

Signs and symptoms of leptospirosis

Doctors say while some people get flu-like symptoms, many others do not have any symptoms at all. A few of these include:
  • High fever
  • Redness in the eyes
  • Severe headache
  • Chills
  • Muscle aches
  • Stomachache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes
  • Rashes all over the body
  • Chest pain
  • Breathlessness
  • Black, tarry stool
  • Blood in the pee
  • Red spots on your skin

Ways to treat leptospirosis

A few ways to treat leptospirosis include antibiotics – and according to doctors, if the case is mild, they may have you keep an eye on your symptoms to see if you get better without treatment. However, if you have severe leptospirosis, you would be required to stay in the hospital, and antibiotics will be given through an IV needle.
Also, if your organs get affected, the doctors may also give additional medications or procedures, a few of which include:

Mechanical ventilation

If bacteria infect your lungs, you may not be able to breathe properly and will need the help of a machine.

Plasmapheresis

Also known as plasma exchange - plasmapheresis helps if you are at risk for organ damage from leptospirosis. During this procedure, the doctor removes your blood using a tube attached to a vein. A machine separates your plasma from your blood and replaces it with a plasma substitute.
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